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Chapter 236: Spoken (Received)
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It had been about a week since Sam had come home. As expected, her powers were weaker here. Also as expected, a lot of her expertise had been brushed aside by the adults in charge. They saw her as just another kid, albeit one that had more encounters with ghosts than average.
At least, that's what happened on the human side of things. The ghosts had obviously all heard about Danny. That left her in the strange position of being a halfway mediator and more aligned with the ghosts in town than the humans.
On the other hand, Danny was right to say that she was needed here. People feared all the changes, feared the ghosts, feared that the outside world might turn on them again, feared the fact that the needles on their home-use Fenton Ecto-Detectos were creeping steadily upward with each passing day, feared the way ghost buildings like the Sunshine Union skyscraper were becoming more and more visible, feared the spatial anomalies, feared the imaginary, invisible city that was day-to-day becoming more real around them.
They feared themselves, the glitter in their children's eyes, the specter of what they might become.
Of course, starvation and nuclear bombs were feared slightly more. So, no one particularly railed against Sam using her powers to grow vines up the sides of apartment buildings or the slightly green-tinted sky.
"Are those really good to eat?" asked an old woman, pointing at the crate of slightly luminous melons Sam was carrying to the truck for distribution. She was one of Sam's grandmother's bingo friends.
"Yeah," said Sam. "They're kind of sour, though. Ectoplasm is an acquired taste."
"As long as it isn't bland…"
"Want one?"
"Oh, I couldn't. The rationing—"
"It's just one," said Sam, "and we got more than expected, today." Almost a whole crate, in fact. "No one will miss it."
"If you're sure…"
Sam handed over a melon and brought the rest to the truck. "Take it away, Kwan," she said.
"Yes, ma'am." The underclassman in the passenger seat gave her a thumbs up.
Ah, yes. She should also mention that she'd become de facto leader of all Casper High students, whether they had gone on a trek through the Ghost Zone or not. It was… weird. Paulina, despite not officially recognizing her leadership, acted as her lieutenant, and Dash seemed to think he was in a gang movie where he was an enforcer.
This was especially strange because all Sam had wanted to do initially was better organize the students to do tasks like this one, things that would keep Amity Park functional.
She stepped back, and Kwan drove off. "Still can believe it," she muttered.
"What, that you're helping prepare Amity Park for our new ghostly overlords?"
"That we grew all that in just a week," responded Sam, flatly. "What do you want, Wes?"
Wes held up his hands. "We need to get in touch with your freaky boyfriend, and for some reason Ishiyama's put me in charge of that."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
Sam rubbed the bridge of her nose. "It isn't like I have him on speed dial or anything. You'll need to send a letter with one of the ghosts."
"Sure, but which one?"
"One second. Hey, guys!" She waved down the street at Star and Mikey who were on watering duty. "I've got to go take care of a political thing. You'll be okay, here?"
"Yeah!" said Star, flashing Sam a thumbs-up.
"Great. Let's go. Might as well talk to Ishiyama herself."
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"Hey," said Mikey. "Did you notice?"
"Notice what?" asked Star, innocently.
"She didn't deny that Danny's her boyfriend this time."
"How did you even hear that?" asked Ricky, approaching with a coil of hose over his shoulder. "I saw them from down the street, but you're pretty far away, too."
"I can read lips."
Ricky stared at his friend. "No, you can't."
"Yes, I can. I started practicing at Libra."
"They were being loud," said Star. "I could hear them, too. I think their base state is being annoyed at each other."
"Stop trying to mess with me," said Ricky, aiming a light kick at Mikey's shin. "Aren't the actual ghost powers enough?"
"They don't really work here, though," complained Mikey. "The air's too thin." He bulldozed on before anyone could consider the implications of that statement. "Anyway, she didn't complain about Danny being called her boyfriend. Do you think they'll get together, even with the whole king thing?"
Ricky blinked. "Since when are you interested in gossip?" He squinted at Star. "You're a bad influence."
"Come on, that's rude," said Star. "Did you really just say that to my face?"
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"A giant wolf man showed up and took the letter?" asked the president. "I don't even know why I'm surprised anymore… Go ahead and print a copy for me to sign."
"Sir?"
"In case that ghost didn't come from the ghost king or whatever. Everyone here on Earth fights one another, why not in the afterlife, too? Maybe there are a thousand ghost kings. Princes. I don't know."
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The one and only Prince of All Ghosts jittered nervously as the jury filed back into the room. This was the end of the sentencing hearing. After this, he might not see his parents again for a very long time.
If ever.
(Even so, he could hardly bear to look at them.)
Mrs. Ormolu stood. "Your honor," she said, "we, the jury, recommend the following sentence for the defendants. First, both they and Daniel Janus James Fenton-Phantom, also known to this court as Danny, shall sign their names to a restraining order written on paper made from the Disjoint Tree. This will cause them to be unable to see, hear, or touch one another, even if they are in the same room. This restraining order should be written such that should one of them see the image of the other on paper, or their name written down, or even their handwriting, then they shall see nothing there. If another party should speak of one in the presence of the other, they should hear only noise."
Danny tore his eyes from the jury to meet the eyes first of his mother, and then his father. Total lack of communication. That would be hard.
But it sounded like they weren't going to be killed or anything. So. That was good.
The fact that they didn't say how long the restraining order would be in effect, however, made him swallow. It wouldn't be indefinite, would it?
"Second, they are to be escorted to Amity Park, where they will fulfil their end of their earlier bargain with Danny and destroy all Taboo-breaking weapons and their blueprints for those weapons."
Again, that wasn't so bad.
"Thirdly, they will beg Penances from the Court of Libra, the Court of Feathers, and the Council of Ancients. These Penances should be possible for humans to complete within a span of ten years and not automatically deadly."
Okay, that was a hint of a duration. Ten years was a long time, but it wasn't forever. Especially not to someone like him, who very well might exist forever. And maybe if they finished the Penances early, they'd be released early? Danny could hope.
"Fourthly, while not undertaking Penance, for the duration of their sentence, the defendants will be under the custody of Danny's guardian, who may direct them as they see fit, provided that they supply conditions compatible with the defendant's continued lives."
Another hint that eventually they would be free. That was good. The rest was less good if Vlad actually got hold of him in the custody hearing, but… If it was Clockwork… Danny thought it would probably be Clockwork.
"Every ten years, a board comprised of members of the Court of Libra, the Court of Feathers, and the Council of Ancients should review their sentence, and determine if they are sufficiently reformed. Should they be deemed unreformed, they must again go and beg Penance. Once they are found to be reformed, all portions of their sentence should be dismissed, from the first to the last."
Mrs. Ormolu took a deep breath. "Finally, we propose that for the duration of the defendants' sentence, that Danny's memories of them be distanced, using either…"
Danny closed his eyes and let Mrs. Ormolu's words be drowned out by the buzzing in his ears. This was fine. He knew this was going to happen from the time he agreed to Themis's compromise. He could feel Jazz's hand on his shoulder. This was fine. He was fine. Distancing wasn't even that bad. He'd still have his memories of them, they'd just be less immediate.
He could live with this.
(Really, Jazz should be the one upset. She'd be nearly as separated from their parents, and he wouldn't be able to comfort her, or even experience the separation in the same way.)
He forced himself to relax.
(He had to force himself to relax again after he remembered Themis could reject or change the sentence. The jury only made a recommendation, after all.)
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Themis did not challenge the jury's decision. Danny couldn't decide whether or not to be glad.
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(The Disjoint Tree grew where the Styx and the Lethe came close, almost touching, before veering away again. Once, people who wished never to meet again would carve their names into its bark. For a long time, it was thought that the spray from the two rivers caused the effect.
Perhaps, then, it was true. But the tree itself had picked it up, and ghosts had improved upon nature. The Infinite Realms were strange like that, after all.)
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"We really won't be able to see or hear Danny after we sign this?" asked Maddie.
"No," said Azalea. "Or hear about him. That will probably be weird for you, seeing as he's our prince, now. There will be a lot of news about him."
"But what if," said Jack, "we're in a dangerous place, and he's in trouble and we can't see him?"
"Unlikely," said Wolfsbane. "He is, after all, our prince, and you are convicted Taboo-breakers. He will hardly be left alone at all, let alone in the same place you're in. This document is a safeguard, for peace of mind. You wouldn't be able to see him, regardless."
"But," started Jack.
Wolfsbane sighed and leaned forward. "I won't lie to you. There is a gap that an enemy could conceivably take advantage of. But the gap is known and taking advantage of it would be incredibly, nearly impossibly, complex and the only conceivable reason for anyone to use it would be to hurt you and Danny. Again, Danny will be the most protected person in the Infinite Realms. If it makes you feel better, however, we could apply for an adjustment that would make it so you cannot be within a certain distance of him."
"We don't even get to say goodbye?" asked Maddie.
"Jack, Maddie," said Wolfsbane. "You have to sign this. You made a Stygian Oath to obey the ruling of the court. Dragging things out will just make them increasingly unpleasant."
As of to confirm this, Maddie's finger's twitched towards the pen. She hid them in her lap, as if being farther away would negate her oath.
There was a knock on the door. Azalea got up and opened it.
"Have you signed it yet?" asked Jazz.
Maddie and Jack shook their heads mutely.
"Good. This is a letter from Danny. He's going to sign his in half an hour, so read it and write a response."
"Jazz—"
"Don't," said Jazz, raising a hand. "Don't waste time talking to me. You're still going to be able to talk to me after this."
Maddie nodded and started reading the letter.
Mom, Dad, before anything else, this isn't your fault. Or, it isn't just your fault. There is an endpoint, and it's a long way off, but it's there, and I'm sure you'll be able to get there. Ten years isn't forever, and whatever tasks they set for you to do, I'm sure you'll be able to do them. You're Fentons, after all!
The tasks they give you, the penance, they'll probably be 'appropriate' in some way, shape, or form. Ghosts like that. I mean, humans like it, too, but ghosts tend to it even more.
Don't forget ghosts are people, too. Some people, you can trust. I think this will be important to you.
I'm sorry I can't help you more after this.
I'm sorry I won't remember you like I should.
But maybe you can keep the good memories in mind for us? Like stargazing, or when we beat up Vlad in the woods that one time.
"When you did what?" asked Jack, blinking.
"I'll explain it later," said Maddie, wondering as she did so if she could even talk to Jack about Danny, what with the restrictions in the restraining order.
I love you both so much. I want you to remember that. I don't mind that you hurt me the other things. They don't matter to me. It's just—I forgive you, and that should be all that matters. I'm sorry it isn't.
I'm sorry. I love you. I forgive you. I'm going to be doing my best to make this easy for you.
Danny